Soriano lifts Yanks past Mets

Thursday

May 15, 2014 at 10:54 PMMay 16, 2014 at 1:28 AM

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Alfonso Soriano’s RBI double in the seventh inning broke up a scoreless duel at Citi Field between starting pitchers making their major-league debuts as the Yankees held off the Mets 1-0 on Thursday night.

Rookie reliever Dellin Betances struck out six in a row as the Yankees earned a split of this year’s series between crosstown rivals with their second straight shutout.

David Robertson got David Wright to ground out to Derek Jeter’s replacement at shortstop, defensive whiz Brendan Ryan, with runners at the corners to end the eighth. Robertson pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

“It’s impressive,” Wright said of Betances. “He had his way with us for sure.”Yankees starter Chase Whitley pitched two-hit ball for 4 2⁄3 innings, striking out four and walking two.

Mets starter Jacob deGrom allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking two.

In addition to a commanding performance on the mound, the 25-year-old deGrom helped Mets pitchers end an unusual record for futility. He lined a single to center field in the third inning to end the staff’s 0-for-64 start to the season.

Whitley also got a hit in his first at-bat – even before he allowed a hit.

“I was bragging about my hitting before the game,” Whitley said, “but then I gave one right back to that guy.”

Young pitchers dominated the series in both games at spacious Citi Field after two slugfests in the Bronx. Masahiro Tanaka pitched his first major-league shutout Wednesday, a 4-0 win for the Yankees.

After Rafael Montero started his big-league career with a fine six-inning performance against Tanaka, deGrom distinguished himself.

“It was unbelievable to watch that guy,” Whitley said of deGrom. “He pitched a heck of a game.”

Adam Warren relieved Whitley to begin the eighth and added a strikeout before allowing a walk. Daniel Murphy then hit a grounder off the end of his bat down the third base line for a single to put runners on first and third.

Jeter watched the last four outs of his final regular-season Subway Series game from the bench, pulled off the field during a double switch in the bottom of the eighth inning.Jeter left after an 0-for-4 night dropped his batting average to .254. The Yankees’ captain, a month shy of his 40th birthday, came out when Robertson entered to face Wright.

Jeter was on the mound during the pitching change, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi told the longtime All-Star his plan.

“I just told him I was going to make a double switch,” Girardi said. “He understands.”Jeter was honored by the Mets before the game. He received several subway-themed gifts, including a “Cake Boss” creation and a No. 2 mosaic made of subway tiles. The Mets Foundation gave Jeter $22,222.22 donation to his Turn 2 Foundation.

Jeter drew a warm ovation when a video tribute was shown on the center-field scoreboard after the national anthem and rounds of applause before each at-bat.